Central Church of Christ - ArticlesCentral Church of Christ - ArticlesTue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400CongreGATE 6.1.34 (http://www.congregateonline.com/)http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles
Robert A. WatersMark ChatfieldRichard BartholomewRobert A. WatersMark ChatfieldRichard BartholomewThe Archaeological Evidence of NinevehTwo books in the Old Testament tell the story of the great and ancient city of Nineveh. Jonah, who prophesied between 786-746 BC, and Nahum, who prophesied between 615-612 BC, left written records of God’s judgment against the Ninevites.

Nineveh was located on the Tigris River, near what is now Mosul, Iraq. For many years, historians thought the city was a Biblical “myth.” Then it was discovered in 1845 by the British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard. Among the ruins of the city was a vast library consisting of more than 22,000 clay tablets. Many of the writings described the day-to-day…]]>

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/the-archaeological-evidence-of-nineveh
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/the-archaeological-evidence-of-ninevehRobert A. WatersRobert A. WatersTwo books in the Old Testament tell the story of the great and ancient city of Nineveh. Jonah, who prophesied between 786-746 BC, and Nahum, who prophesied between 615-612 BC, left written records of God’s judgment against the Ninevites.

Nineveh was located on the Tigris River, near what is now Mosul, Iraq. For many years, historians thought the city was a Biblical “myth.” Then it was discovered in 1845 by the British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard. Among the ruins of the city was a vast library consisting of more than 22,000 clay tablets. Many of the writings described the day-to-day achievements of Nineveh’s mighty kings.

Nineveh was established around 1800 BC and lasted for an incredible twelve hundred years. In 700 BC, the Assyrian king Sennacherib conquered the ten tribes of Israel. He was responsible for making Nineveh into a “modern” city full of streets and squares and parks. The palace he built for himself was said to be without rival in the ancient world. It had eighty rooms, each of which was lined with exquisite sculptures.

The city is described on page 760 in Nelson’s Bible Dictionary. "In Sennacherib's day,” it reads, “the wall around Nineveh was 40 to 50 feet high. It extended for 4 kilometers along the Tigris River and for 13 kilometers around the inner city. The city wall had 15 main gates, 5 of which have been excavated. Each of the gates was guarded by stone bull statues. Both inside and outside the walls, Sennacherib created parks, a botanical garden, and a zoo. He built a water-system containing the oldest aqueduct in history at Jerwan, across the Gomel River."

The cruelties of Nineveh’s rulers were legendary. “Woe to the bloody city,” Nahum cried. “It is all full of lies and robbery. Its victim never departs.” Monuments and stone tablets from Nineveh confirm the prophet’s accusation. A sculpture of an ancient king found inside the palace read: “Many within the border of my own land I flayed, and spread their skins upon the walls.” Scenes on statues and colossal bas-reliefs portrayed victims being impaled and captives beheaded in the streets. After a victory over Babylon, Sennacherib wrote, "Its inhabitants, young and old, I did not spare, and with their corpses I filled the streets of the city."

Before prophesying the doom of the Ninevites, Nahum may have remembered the travails of the prophet Jonah, more than a hundred years before. Fearing the blood-thirsty kingdom, Jonah fled when he was ordered by God to go to the wicked city and prophesy against it. To the prophet’s surprise, everyone in the city repented and God spared it the destruction he had promised.

There would be no repentance in the time of Nahum. “I cut off their hands and fingers, and from others I cut off their noses, their ears, their fingers, of many I put out their eyes,” wrote an unknown king.

Soon after Nahum’s prophesies, the Medes and Babylonians attacked Nineveh. The city fell in 612 BC, and was burned to the ground. Over the years, it faded entirely from view. While other ancient Biblical cities were identified by ruins that were still visible in the 1800s, Nineveh remained buried in oblivion until it was discovered by archaeologist Layard.

“There the fire will devour you,” writes Nahum of Nineveh. “The sword will cut you off; it will eat you up like a locust...”

Archaeologists have found evidence of this great fire--yet another example of secular history confirming Biblical truth.

]]>The Archaeological Evidence at HazorIt has become fashionable among many of today’s scholars to disbelieve the obvious. While Biblical archaeologists in the 18th and 19th centuries let the evidence from their digs guide them to logical conclusions, modern intellectuals have a pre-set belief system that they seem unwilling to abandon, even in the face of massive contrary evidence.

An example of this is exemplified in the story of Joshua’s destruction of Hazor.

An article in Wikipedia sums up the modern view: “Some archaeologists believe that the Israelites emerged simply as a subculture within Canaanite society, and thus that the Israelite conquest of Canaan did…]]>

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/the-archaeological-evidence-at-hazor
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/the-archaeological-evidence-at-hazorRobert A. WatersRobert A. WatersIt has become fashionable among many of today’s scholars to disbelieve the obvious. While Biblical archaeologists in the 18th and 19th centuries let the evidence from their digs guide them to logical conclusions, modern intellectuals have a pre-set belief system that they seem unwilling to abandon, even in the face of massive contrary evidence.

An example of this is exemplified in the story of Joshua’s destruction of Hazor.

An article in Wikipedia sums up the modern view: “Some archaeologists believe that the Israelites emerged simply as a subculture within Canaanite society, and thus that the Israelite conquest of Canaan did not happen as detailed in the Bible; most Biblical scholars believe that the Book of Joshua conflates several independent battles between disparate groups, over multiple centuries, and artificially attributes them to a single leader--Joshua.”

Neither the Biblical text nor the archaeological record supports that conclusion.

In Joshua 11: 10-13, the scripture reads: “And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.” (KJV)

Between 1955 and 1968, Israeli archaeologist Yigael Yadin excavated Hazor. He found temples, palaces, and fortifications and dated the oldest part of the city from 2000-1200 B.C. Later excavations uncovered cuneiform tablets, cylinder seals, bronze swords, armor, and “the largest basalt statue of a Canaanite god ever found at a Biblical site in Israel.” But what he found next stunned archaeologists.

At a level between 1500 and 1200 B.C., Yadin found evidence of the total destruction of the city by fire. (When excavated, none of the surrounding cities displayed any evidence of a fiery conquest.) This coincides to the last detail with the Biblical description of the conquest of Hazor.

However, modern archeologists scoffed at the find. They countered that the Egyptians may have actually destroyed Hazor. But archaeologist Amnon Ben-Tor who is currently excavating Hazor disputes this. The intentional smashing of statues of Egyptian kings which were found in the site, he states, makes this unlikely. Next the scholars claimed that “sea-peoples” may have destroyed the city (even though it is seven miles inland). But not one single sherd of their distinctive pottery has ever been found there. Well, then, maybe the Canaanites themselves destroyed the city and burned it to the ground. Ben-Tor, however, states that Hazor was much too strong for the smaller cities surrounding it to have inflicted that much damage to the city.

The most logical conclusion is the Biblical version. As Joshua entered Canaan, he began to conquer the land city by city. When he came to Hazor he by-passed it for a time because it was the largest and most powerful city in the region. Eventually, after destroying the surrounding city-states, Joshua circled back and met Jabin, king of Hazor, in battle. The Israelites decisively defeated Jabin, killed him, and burned Hazor to the ground.

Despite the disbelief of some scholars, the archaeological record accurately reflects the Biblical account.

Check out the following website for a more detailed description of the finds at Hazor.

]]>More than EnoughEver wonder how much work for the Lord is enough?

Preachers started making me feel guilty when I was a teen-ager in the 1960’s. Listening to them, there is never enough. “Work for the night is coming.”

Interestingly, God’s word tells us that our work for Him can be enough. More than that, Christians can know when it is enough.

Genesis 24 tells us how Abraham sent his servant to find a Canaanite wife for Isaac. When the servant found Rebeccah, he asked for lodging and Rebeccah told him that he was welcome because they had enough.

In Genesis 33,…]]>

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/more-than-enough
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/more-than-enoughMark ChatfieldMark ChatfieldEver wonder how much work for the Lord is enough?

Preachers started making me feel guilty when I was a teen-ager in the 1960’s. Listening to them, there is never enough. “Work for the night is coming.”

Interestingly, God’s word tells us that our work for Him can be enough. More than that, Christians can know when it is enough.

Genesis 24 tells us how Abraham sent his servant to find a Canaanite wife for Isaac. When the servant found Rebeccah, he asked for lodging and Rebeccah told him that he was welcome because they had enough.

In Genesis 33, when Jacob and Esau met after being separated, both said they had been blessed by God and they had enough. They had enough to be able to give to their brother.

When Israel heard in Genesis 45 about Joseph, it was enough that Joseph was alive. He did not need to know the details.

When the people were asked to work to build the sanctuary in Exodus 36:5,6 the people actually had to restrain themselves. “And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Jehovah commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.”

God told Israel through Isaiah that their sacrifices were ineffective as long as their hearts were not right. He had had enough. Isaiah 1:11 “What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.”

Jesus advises in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 that the light that we generate in our lives is limited. For there to be enough, we must not waste. Here, I believe, is the answer.

It is enough when we have determined though prayer and study and self-examination that we have identified our unique abilities to serve God and have looked ahead to the service that lies before us and have determined how to mete out our efforts to be effective until the end.

There are those who are so on fire for the Lord that they burn out in a few years. In contrast, there are those who never recognize their God-given abilities and spend their entire lives going to church and listening and reading but fail to let their light shine.

Your work is enough when you and God have determined what you can do and when you are doing it at a pace and in a manner that assures consistent living in the light.

It is enough.

]]>Accountability"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Rev. 22:12)

Life-altering events occur in all of our individual journeys from infancy to death and it is relatively easy to reflect on those special days in our lives that mark us in some way as good or bad people in the eyes of the world. As children our memorable "good" days may be getting a straight "A" report card, being selected for an All-Star team, getting a special gift we've always wanted or taking that once-in-a-lifetime vacation.…]]>

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/accountability
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/accountabilityRichard BartholomewRichard Bartholomew"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Rev. 22:12)

Life-altering events occur in all of our individual journeys from infancy to death and it is relatively easy to reflect on those special days in our lives that mark us in some way as good or bad people in the eyes of the world. As children our memorable "good" days may be getting a straight "A" report card, being selected for an All-Star team, getting a special gift we've always wanted or taking that once-in-a-lifetime vacation. As adults, we can think of our wedding day, the births of our children, buying a new home or getting a needed job or promotion. Bad days that stick in our memories may include, as children, failing in school, getting cut from a team, disappointing our parents in some major way or losing our first boy or girl friend. Divorce, financial calamities, serious illness, loss of a job and death are all events that mark certain days in our adult lives as "bad". It can reasonably be said that all human beings have both good and bad days and that some days appear to have more significance in our lives than others. Someone has correctly stated that it's not the cards we are dealt that matter, but how we play our hand. Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30) makes this concept scripturally valid.

But do a few "significant" days make us who we are and determine the eternal destination of our souls? Certainly, an horrific act of murder can shatter an image and expose a spiritual weakness and change our lives forever. The same could be said for an act of adultery, theft, bribery or any number of "illegal or immoral" activities. By the same token, our decision to confess Jesus as the Son of God and be baptized with a heart of repentance changes our lives in a good way. But what about the normal, usual days of our lives? Are they important and significant to us and to God? What about those days where we just don't feel well and chastise our children for no reason or make rude remarks to our spouse? What about the days when we know a neighbor needs a ride or just someone to talk to and we're too busy to bother? What about the days when we choose to go to the beach instead of going to services, or sit in services with our minds at the beach instead of on our commitment to God? What about the days when we watch 4 hours of television and can't find the time to read our Bibles? What about the days when we just say "no" because saying "yes" will take too much time and energy? What about the days we dwell on our own problems and ignore those of everyone around us? What about those days when we do nothing particularly positive or negative and just kind of muddle through?

It seems to me that God expects the obvious from everyone - Do not murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, have no idols, do not lie, etc. Those who violate these clear-cut laws can easily be identified and labeled by the rest of us as "Bad". However, God shows no distinction between levels of sin and the New Covenant as established by Jesus cuts to the heart and judges us daily in our every thought and deed. The essence of Matthew 25: 31-46 is that it is how we live our lives on a daily basis that will determine whether or not we spend eternity in heaven or hell. It isn't momentous acts of charity or the terrible mistakes that we make that will ultimately decide our fate. There is no partiality with God, sin is sin regardless of the weight man may assign to a particular deed. Of course, we must follow the steps of salvation as a condition of eternal grace. The hearing, believing, confessing, repenting and being baptized are given essentials the Bible outlines for all who wish to enter the kingdom. But after baptism, the real journey of obedience begins. We will have days when we make real progress and feel good about our faith. Then we will have days where we regress into our old attitudes and doubt our purpose in wearing the name "Christian". The key is dogged perseverance. As Paul stresses in Philippians 3: 12-17, we must press on, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. And we can't do it alone. That's why God established the church and gave us the Bible. We draw comfort and strength from the Bible, then support and encouragement from the church. God's plan is perfect, but we must accept His conditions and never give up hope.

Accountability, like death, is something none of us can escape and we must not lose sight of the little things in life as we strive for our larger goals.

]]>CommitmentA motivational phrase used by Shearson Lehman Brothers and adopted by the Internal Revenue Service is "Renewed Commitment". They said about commitment: "Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of intentions. And the actions which speak louder than words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism."

In the business world there is a…]]>

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/commitment
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/commitmentRichard BartholomewRichard BartholomewA motivational phrase used by Shearson Lehman Brothers and adopted by the Internal Revenue Service is "Renewed Commitment". They said about commitment: "Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of intentions. And the actions which speak louder than words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism."

In the business world there is a recognized need for both management and employees to re-dedicate themselves to their jobs and the organization. Why? Complacency is the primary reason. Human beings have a tendency to drift into patterns of behavior where mediocrity is the norm. The "fire" leaves the spirit and the energetic outlook that we once had is no longer there. Things still get done, but not as well. Morale suffers, attitudes become more negative and performance is marginal at best. We just try to get by, not really caring about the quality product of our efforts. This is a real concern in other areas of life as well. Many marriages fail for the same reasons. Family relationships and friendships drift into stagnation for lack of concerted effort. Children see complacency in their parents' lives and duplicate the behavior in their schoolwork and personal lives. Rather than buckle down and work, we all tend to look for the path of least resistance, stay comfortable and non-confrontational and go through life avoiding anything that would involve substantial work and an all-out effort to succeed.

Nowhere is this outlook on life more prevalent and more dangerous than in our spiritual lives. Dante said, "The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in a time of moral crisis." Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing." Jesus warned the church in Laodicea that they would be spit out of His mouth for being lukewarm. (Revelation 3:14-16) In Luke 16:19-31. Jesus uses the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus to teach against indifference. The rich man was not shown to be evil, but he apparently went to Hell for being indifferent. Our Lord, also, told us that the pathway to Heaven is narrow and that few will find the way. (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus later taught that He did not come to bring peace, but that He came with a sword. (Matthew 10:34) And the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and Luke 19 clearly teaches us that God expects us to productively use our gifts and abilities and not just drift through life without taking risks. God despises complacency and we must guard against it.

Commitment is what Christianity is all about. Failure to consciously make a commitment to Jesus and His eternal cause will result in the condemnation of our souls. This is a fact. In John 8:42-48, Jesus says that anyone who does not learn His Word and live accordingly are children of the devil. This leaves no middle ground, no approval for straddling the fence on relevant issues and no room for complacency. We must be committed to our spouses, to our children, to fellow Christians and, above all, to God. We must be fully committed with all our hearts and minds, relying on this commitment every time we make a decision. We should periodically step back to re-examine our commitments to make sure that our energies are focused as God would have them, and then be willing to change our lives as necessary. Commitment or complacency? It is a lifelong challenge that we must meet every day.

]]>Always SomethingA phrase that I've found myself thinking and uttering quite often the past several months is "It's Always Something." I made a career move about a year ago by going into management after over 20 years as an independent field agent. Management has stress and pressures that are both interesting and challenging. As one who likes to plan and function with precise organization, I am having to adapt to continuous adjustments in my daily schedule. Invariably, things just come up that alter the plans I had made. While sometimes frustrated, I am learning that flexibility and quick decision-making are necessary…]]>Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/always-something
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/always-somethingRichard BartholomewRichard BartholomewA phrase that I've found myself thinking and uttering quite often the past several months is "It's Always Something." I made a career move about a year ago by going into management after over 20 years as an independent field agent. Management has stress and pressures that are both interesting and challenging. As one who likes to plan and function with precise organization, I am having to adapt to continuous adjustments in my daily schedule. Invariably, things just come up that alter the plans I had made. While sometimes frustrated, I am learning that flexibility and quick decision-making are necessary traits of a successful manager. It's easy to allow priorities to shift and slip while being pulled in fifty different directions by various tasks and demands vying for my time and attention. At work I can, seemingly, do things I don't want to do, don't like to do and don't think are necessarily important, because I know I am required to perform to keep my job. Priorities are kept in focus and I work hard to please both my superiors and my subordinants.

At home, it's a little less clear how well I've dealt with life's surprises, glitches and problems. I know I'm supposed to love my spouse as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25). But there have been times when I've neglected her, treated her unfairly or downplayed her ideas and needs. There have, also, been occasions when I've been inconsistent in the handling of our children, being overly critical or showing a lack of concern and attention. I admit to the need for better focus and an improvement in my ability to deal with the "little somethings" that always come up at home. Overall, however, I believe we have a successful marriage and a good family environment.

Spiritually, I am like the stock market. There are days when I think of the church and my faith almost continually and others when a quick prayer at the dinner table is the only attention given to God the entire day. Most of the time I'm somewhere in between, depending on the "things" that are going on in my life. I can organize the monthly duty roster, prepare and teach a Bible class, say a prayer in assembly and even put together a sermon when asked. The appearance of Christianity is there for all to see. But when I look in the mirror and examine my faith, I see many weaknesses and lots of excuses. I willingly do those things that come easy or require little effort, considering my personal abilities. But I rationalize around becoming more well-rounded (spiritually speaking) and growing into the complete man of God I am supposed to become. I don't shun unpleasant responsibilities at work. While not as good a husband/father as I'd like to be, I don't really procrastinate or avoid too much at home either. Why, then, do I do so when it comes to the church?

I submit that when I - when we - fail to fulfill ALL our duties as Christians, it is because we do not trust God as we should and have not completely submitted ourselves to His divine will. Jesus said, "All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). Paul thanked Christ, who strengthened him, because He considered him faithful, putting him into service (I Tim. 1:12). The more faithful we are, the more we trust in the Lord and the more strength we will be given to do those things that are difficult or uncomfortable. I have been a Christian for 5 years and have a long way to go. I can't become complacent, resting on my conversion and meager accomplishments to carry me to eternal life with God. I am required, as we all are, to resist those tempting "things" that come up regularly that would hinder us or even knock us off the narrow path leading to the crown of life. Church-Home-Job should be our priorities in life, not Job-Home-Church, or any other set of priorities that would move God from the #1 position. We make and adjust priorities every day of our lives and have to adapt as interferences impose themselves upon us. But we must never lose focus on heaven, on faith, on God and on our real reason for being here on earth. If we do, those "Always Somethings" will carry us down that wide road leading to eternal damnation.

]]>Effective CommunicationSome people have tremendous knowledge and abilities in certain areas, yet cannot teach what they know to others. Some think they are effective communicators, but the results prove them to be wrong. If a high school algebra teacher gave a test and all the students failed, the teacher would know that the methods used to impart that lesson had failed. A new approach would be needed and the subject should be taught again. If that same class consistently failed test after test, the conclusion must be drawn that either the students were not ready to take the course or the…]]>Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/effective-communication
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/effective-communicationRichard BartholomewRichard BartholomewSome people have tremendous knowledge and abilities in certain areas, yet cannot teach what they know to others. Some think they are effective communicators, but the results prove them to be wrong. If a high school algebra teacher gave a test and all the students failed, the teacher would know that the methods used to impart that lesson had failed. A new approach would be needed and the subject should be taught again. If that same class consistently failed test after test, the conclusion must be drawn that either the students were not ready to take the course or the teacher is a bad teacher. Somewhere there has been a lack of effective communication, resulting in a breakdown of the teaching/learning process.

Communication is accomplished with words (spoken or written), with body language (movements, gestures or eye contact), and with action (showing the student how to do something). The way that we communicate often determines how effective the teaching process will be. Preparedness is essential. We have to fully know our material in order to properly teach it. Furthermore, we need an organized plan of how the topic will be presented. Attitude is equally important. If we are enthusiastic about the subject at hand, the person(s) we're talking to will quickly see that we truly believe in what we're teaching. The presentation itself must be geared towards the audience. An effective teacher has to be able to relate to their students. The use of stories, examples or scenarios that tie in to the life experiences of those being taught will peak interest and show that the teacher cares about and understands the needs of the students. Finally, effective communication requires demonstrative proof that what you are teaching really works. Chemistry formulas from a book or chalkboard take on a whole new meaning when tested in the lab. Base stealing techniques explained on the practice field are reinforced when they work in a game. Once the students see living proof that ideas and philosophies are practical and real, the credibility of the teacher rises and the door is opened for more in-depth instruction.

The negative side of this, also, applies. If a teacher has limited knowledge, is unprepared, has a poor mental approach, can't relate to their audience and doesn't get practical results, their credibility is lost and the doors of communication will close. Weaknesses in any of these areas can severely hinder the teaching process. There may be talking, but no hearing; there is perceived teaching, but no real learning.

I Timothy 4:4-16 is God's instruction on how we are to be effective teachers of His Word and these passages reinforce everything mentioned previously. As Christians, we are not only required to grow in grace and knowledge (II Peter 3:18), we are mandated to teach others (Matt. 28:19-20). The key is learning to be effective communicators so that our teaching will be productive. I imagine all of us could improve our abilities in this area and should strive to learn to be more effective teachers.

]]>EthicsDr. Fred Schab from the University of Georgia recently published the results of a 20-year study on America's changing attitudes regarding ethics. While not surprising, the data is revealing and can help us understand how far our nation's moral base has eroded since the social revolution of the 1960's. Some of the statistics are as follows:

1. Honesty is the best policy. - 1969-82% agreed 1989-60% agreed

2. Crime does not pay. - 1969-82% agreed …]]>

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/ethics
http://www.ocalacentralchurch.com/resources/articles/2016/10/11/ethicsRichard BartholomewRichard BartholomewDr. Fred Schab from the University of Georgia recently published the results of a 20-year study on America's changing attitudes regarding ethics. While not surprising, the data is revealing and can help us understand how far our nation's moral base has eroded since the social revolution of the 1960's. Some of the statistics are as follows:

What this survey says about our society is that we are losing our standards of right and wrong. It says that we are more tolerant of previously unacceptable behavior. It says that we now expect people to break the rules and that doing so is not necessarily wrong, depending on the circumstances. Such a system of beliefs is called humanism and this "religion" embraces many other philosophies - liberalism, evolution, situational ethics, mysticism and astrology, to name a few. Humanism is taught in our schools. It is espoused on TV and in the movies. It pervades the religious world and it attacks Christianity in subtle ways we may not even recognize. It is an outlook on life and a pattern of behavior that places self and temporal gratification above all else. God, in His infinite wisdom, predicted such a society. Read II Timothy 3:1-7 and it will amaze you how closely Paul describes the United States of the 1990's.

Of course, we, as Christians, are not be to caught up in humanism and its' cleverly devised snares. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. (I John 2:15-16) But are we? Are we doing our part to combat declining ethical standards by the way we live our lives and the choices we make? When we buy expensive houses, fancy vehicles, boats, computers, the latest in electronic and video equipment, new clothes and shoes (just to stay in style when the ones we have look and fit just fine), pretty collectibles and gadgets (just to possess them), take cruises and expensive vacations, eat out rather than cook at home, and on and on and on, can we truly say that we are not "of the world"? Will we be able to face our Lord on judgment day and say we used our talents and resources to the best of our abilities to spread His gospel and enhance His kingdom? I fear that some of the choices I have made have been as self-serving as those of any non-Christian. I fear that I profess to abhor humanism and its' accompanying belief-systems, but my actions may speak differently. I John 1:6 says, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." How many times do we "walk in the darkness" with our choices over how to spend our money and our time? It is a thought that bothers me and should bother any Christian living in present-day America.